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Nittany Lion Shrine

Nittany Lion Shrine

This timeless image of the Nittany Lion statue, covered with snow, was taken nearly 50 years ago. Though Penn State has significantly changed since 1966, the statue itself is just the same. However, those new to the University Park campus may not realize that the lion's surroundings were extensively renovated with a gift from Penn State's Class of 2012. The statue, originally a gift from the Class of 1940, was carved on-site by noted sculptor Heinz Warneke, from a single 13-ton block of Indiana limestone. Seventy years, thousands of visitors, and frequent repairs had brought the University's beloved landmark to a point where extensive changes were desperately needed to ensure its continued beauty and purpose. Spring of 2013 saw the shrine surrounded by blue fencing for enhancements to the area that included improved and eco-friendly lighting, accessibility and landscaping. It reopened that August just in time for Summer Commencement.

As Derek Kalp and his colleagues in Penn State's Office of Physical Plant pondered the future of the Nittany Lion shrine, the most important thing to them was that it have a setting worthy of its stature. Although their goals were to improve lighting and accessibility, they like to say they were creating a better lion habitat.

While physical plant landscape architect, Derek Kalp was overseeing the Lion Shrine remodel, crews came upon an abundance of white chips scattered at the base of the statue. Discover what those chips were as Derek Kalp explains.

Many have seen it. Austere. Stoic. Those words and others have been used to describe the Nittany Lion Shrine. If you're a PSU graduate, you should have a picture or two of you and the Lion in an album or a hard drive somewhere, but most are taken in the daytime.

For the fourth year, Penn State Lehigh Valley will join thousands of people, businesses and organizations across the country and the world to help shine a light on autism through the Autism Speaks Light It Up Blue campaign. From April 1 to 4, in commemoration of the United Nations-sanctioned World Autism Awareness Day on April 2, the Nittany Lion Shrine at the north entrance of the campus will be illuminated in a special blue light.

Penn State's iconic Nittany Lion Shrine, currently undergoing renovations to improve lighting, accessibility and landscaping, will temporarily be available during Summer Commencement weekend at the University Park campus. The shrine will be open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 8, through Sunday, Aug. 11.

Beginning May 13, Penn State's Nittany Lion Shrine will be closed to visitors this summer for renovations to improve lighting, accessibility and landscaping. Depending on many variables that can impact the progress of the work, including weather, there may be limited access from between summer commencement and Sept. 6, the target completion date of the project.

Penn State's Office of Physical Plant has announced that the schedule for renovations to the Nittany Lion Shrine, which will result in restricted access to the statue and the surrounding area, has been modified to accommodate the University's ROTC commissioning and the Law School commencement ceremonies.

According to the newly modified plan, OPP will perform preparatory work in April that will require the shrine to be closed April 15-19. The shrine will then re-open for access from April 20 through May 12. The full scope of the renovations will begin May 13, and the shrine will be closed to visitors. The area will remain closed throughout the summer until the Aug. 5 commencement.

Today (Oct. 24) is the 70th anniversary of the dedication of one of the hallmarks of Penn State: the Nittany Lion Shrine. Whether students grew up as Penn State fans or they began "bleeding blue and white" when they first stepped on the University Park campus, the shrine is an important part of their lives. A gift of the class of 1940, the statue was completed by sculptor Heinz Warneke from a 13-ton block of Indiana limestone in 1942. Since then, it has become the most photographed spot on campus -- and a favorite symbol of Penn Staters everywhere.

Penn State alumni and benefactors Edward R. and Helen S. Hintz will be endowing a $50,000 Trustee Scholarship in the name of the class of 2012 after the Senior Class Gift Committee met a goal of obtaining at least 3,000 pledges to the class gift from seniors by April 15, 2012. According to Jordan Ford, senior class gift advisor, as of April 15 the campaign had secured more than 3,500 pledges for the gift and is on pace to raise the most money and secure the most pledges in the class gift program's history. Seniors can still make a gift at www.SeniorClassGift.psu.edu online.